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March 24, 2026
隐(隱)yǐn(yin3)
The character 隐 (yǐn) refers to something that is secret, hidden, or concealed. It can describe both physical things that are obscured from view and abstract concepts such as secrets or hidden intentions. Commonly used in contexts involving privacy, confidentiality, or stealth.
Strokes11Radical阝Frequency#7808DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of privacy and secrets plays a significant role, particularly in personal relationships and family matters. The term 隐私 (yǐnsī) is frequently discussed in the context of social media and data privacy.
Memory Tip
Imagine a shadowy figure (隐) lurking in the background, hidden from sight. The character has the radical '阝' (hill) suggesting something that is not easily accessible, combined with '隐' (yǐn), which sounds like 'in,' indicating something is kept inside or concealed.
Meanings of 隐
yǐn(yin3)
primary
1secret
2hidden
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 隐
隐Simplified
隱Traditional
11Strokes
阝Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#7808Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6
Podcast: 隐
Podcast: 隐
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AI Study Notes for 隐
Quick Contrast
隐 (yǐn) vs 暗 (àn) — use 隐 when referring to something that is hidden or concealed intentionally, while 暗 refers to something that is dark or lacking light.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a shadowy figure (隐) lurking in the background, hidden from sight. The character has the radical '阝' (hill) suggesting something that is not easily accessible, combined with '隐' (yǐn), which sounds like 'in,' indicating something is kept inside or concealed.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 隐 with similar characters like 显 (xiǎn), which means 'to reveal.' This word is typically used in formal contexts, especially in discussions of security or privacy. Be mindful of proper tone pronunciation, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
While 隐 is not a specific HSK word, it relates to other HSK vocabulary on privacy and concealment. Students should focus on using it in phrases and understanding its prefix role in words like '隐私' (yǐnsī), meaning 'privacy.'
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of privacy and secrets plays a significant role, particularly in personal relationships and family matters. The term 隐私 (yǐnsī) is frequently discussed in the context of social media and data privacy.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 隐 with 隐瞒 (yǐnmán - to conceal) and misuse them interchangeably. For example, saying '我隐这个秘密' (I hide this secret) is incorrect; it should be '我隐瞒这个秘密'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 隐
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Grammar Patterns of 隐
隐 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Eisenhower left the White House and retired to his farm in Gettysburg.
9
我们隐约感觉可能正有什么事情发生。
wǒ mén yǐn yuē gǎn jué kě néng zhèng yǒu shí mó shì qíng fā shēng。
We had an inkling that something might be happening.
10
内心深处隐隐感觉到有什么事即将发生。
nèi xīn shēn chǔ yǐn yǐn gǎn jué dào yǒu shí mó shì jí jiāng fā shēng。
Deep inside the awareness was stirring that something was about to happen.
Cultural Notes for 隐
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of privacy and secrets plays a significant role, particularly in personal relationships and family matters. The term 隐私 (yǐnsī) is frequently discussed in the context of social media and data privacy.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, the concept of privacy is often more openly discussed and legally protected than in some Asian cultures, where discussing personal matters is sometimes seen as intrusive.
Word Family of 隐
Compounds1
瘾yin3addiction
Words Containing This Character20
隐藏yǐncángto hide隱藏
隐瞒yǐnmánto conceal隱瞞
隐私yǐnsīsecrets隱私
隐yǐnsecret隱
隐患yǐnhuànhidden damage隱患
隐形yǐnxínginvisible隱形
隐蔽yǐnbìto conceal隱蔽
隐身yǐnshēnto hide oneself隱身
隐隐faint隱隱
隐秘secret隱秘
隐约yǐnyuēvague隱約
隐形眼镜contact lens隱形眼鏡
隐性yǐnxìnghidden隱性
隐居to live in seclusion隱居
隐含implicit隱含
隐匿to cover up隱匿
隐喻metaphor隱喻
隐私权privacy right隱私權
隐忍to bear patiently隱忍
隐情yǐnqíngulterior motive隱情
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 瘾 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 隐
You can use 隐 (yǐn) in a sentence to describe something that is not overtly visible or is kept secret. For example, '这个地方隐秘' (zhège dìfāng yǐnmì) means 'This place is secretive.' It can also be used in other phrases like '隐形' (yǐnxíng) which means 'invisible'.
Some common phrases that include 隐 (yǐn) are '隐私' (yǐnsī) meaning 'privacy', and '隐患' (yǐnhuàn) meaning 'hidden danger'. These phrases highlight the different contexts in which the character can be used, emphasizing secrecy or concealment in various situations.
隐 (yǐn) means 'hidden' or 'concealed' in Chinese. It can refer to something that is not easily seen or understood. Additionally, it is used in various contexts such as 'secret' or as a prefix in words related to secrecy, like in '隐私' (yǐnsī), which means 'privacy'.
You can use 隐 in sentences like '这个消息是隐秘的' (This news is secret).
Some common words include 隐私 (yǐnsī - privacy) and 隐蔽 (yǐnbì - to conceal).
While it is more common in formal contexts, it can be used informally when discussing secrets among friends.
